National Sport News

Toure inspires City to victory

Yaya Toure's peerless midfield play dragged Manchester City back into the Barclays Premier League title race in a controlled 2-0 win at Crystal Palace.

Fit-again Toure teed up Edin Dzeko's 24th goal of the season before firing his 23rd as Manuel Pellegrini's men capitalised on Liverpool's 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea.

City closed within three points of the Anfield league leaders and just one of the second-placed Blues, thanks to a Toure masterclass as muscular as it was meticulous.

Toure and his team-mates are now able to draw level on points with Brendan Rodgers' men, given victory at Palace and their game in hand.

City have a trip to Everton and home clashes with Aston Villa and West Ham still to come while Liverpool travel to Palace next, before hosting Newcastle at Anfield on Sunday May 11, the final day of the season.

Toure needed just four minutes to wrestle control, returning after missing two matches with thigh trouble.

The 30-year-old chipped an inch-perfect free-kick into the Palace box, positively begging Dzeko to bisect Scott Dann and Damien Delaney.

The 28-year-old Bosnia striker had little option but to ghost onto the cross and nod the visitors into the lead.

Liverpool's Anfield hiccup against Chelsea cracked the door, but Toure and company booted it open in south London.